Nicholasdeaan
Avid Member
So this year was my first time ever collecting cicadas as they only hatch every so many years. I have ALOT of them in my backyard. I can collect up to 10-20 in 10 minutes. Both my chameleon and Cuban Knight Anole have grown pretty fond of them! Here are some tips for anyone wanting to hunt them.
1. Only go after dark. You might get lucky and catch a few during daylight hours, but by then, they've dried their wings and buzz all over the place. I usually wait until the sun just goes down. Once it's dark, I go out. That's when they emerge from the ground. I've noticed alot aren't actually hatched yet, since they all come crawling out at different hours of the night.But that's ok! I prefer it that way. The wings don't get damaged when in containers. If they are freshly hatched and still drying their wings and you try to catch them usually the wings get clumped together and then they are damaged. Of course, you find some Thad are ready to go and fly away! The best ones you can catch.
2. If you're like me and prefer to catch the ones that are still not hatched yet here's the best way to keep them that's easy. Set up a 20-30 gallon tank. Set a heat lamp over it so it's about 78-80 degrees inside the tank. They need the heat to molt. Mist the tank for humidity, as this helps them hatch out of their shells. Place plenty of sticks and perches for them to crawl on. Place paper towels or something alike on the bottom. If they fall, its hard for them to crawl on the bare glass.
3. You really can't gutload them to my knowledge, since their mission is to mate, and die. I may be wrong. I offer a shallow water dish.
4. Most importantly, enjoy some free cool feeders!! Hope this assists anyone who'd like to give it a go!
1. Only go after dark. You might get lucky and catch a few during daylight hours, but by then, they've dried their wings and buzz all over the place. I usually wait until the sun just goes down. Once it's dark, I go out. That's when they emerge from the ground. I've noticed alot aren't actually hatched yet, since they all come crawling out at different hours of the night.But that's ok! I prefer it that way. The wings don't get damaged when in containers. If they are freshly hatched and still drying their wings and you try to catch them usually the wings get clumped together and then they are damaged. Of course, you find some Thad are ready to go and fly away! The best ones you can catch.
2. If you're like me and prefer to catch the ones that are still not hatched yet here's the best way to keep them that's easy. Set up a 20-30 gallon tank. Set a heat lamp over it so it's about 78-80 degrees inside the tank. They need the heat to molt. Mist the tank for humidity, as this helps them hatch out of their shells. Place plenty of sticks and perches for them to crawl on. Place paper towels or something alike on the bottom. If they fall, its hard for them to crawl on the bare glass.
3. You really can't gutload them to my knowledge, since their mission is to mate, and die. I may be wrong. I offer a shallow water dish.
4. Most importantly, enjoy some free cool feeders!! Hope this assists anyone who'd like to give it a go!
